Friction device



R. w. BROWN 2,354,448

FRICTION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12; 194s 2 I mvzu'roa r 45 QOq'Wbraown v 59 I 28 BY I 57 ,5

4 Y ATTORNIEYS y R. w. BROWN 2,354,448 I FRICTION DEVICE Filed Jan. 12, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RoY W. wows ATTORNEYfl ments of the invention. a @Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an oscillating joint comprising a pair of "arms or links, If), III, a pivot pin 'H carried by said arms at the ends thereof,,and a member J2 pivotally mountedupon the' pivot pin f. In if parallelogram linkages employed for individual Patented July 25, 1944 rmcrron-m'zvicn Roy Clix-own,fAkron Ohib, assignorito'f'lhe Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron,

3 Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 12, 1943; SeriaLZNo. 472,152. 11 Claims. 1; sa- 5139) t a This invention relates to friction devices for opposing angular movement between two relatively movable members, i and more especially it relates to devices for frictionally opposing torque. ,between two adjacent members movable relatively of each other about an axis.

The devicehas a widerange of utility, being especially adapted for use in oscillating joints in parallelogram linkagesemployed in individual wheel suspensions formotor vehicles. Suchsuspensions may be of theconventional kneeaction type, or they may be of pneumatictype such as shown in myv prior U. S. Patent No. 2,208,537,

issued July 16, 1940.

1 The chief objects of the invention are to pro vide' i'n an improved manner forfrictionally resisting relative movement of the. elements of oscillating joints; to provide a friction device comprising means for compensating for wear of the friction elementsthereof; to provide for the exeluding of dirt and-other foreign matter from the device; to provide for lubrication of;-the device; and to :provide in an improvedmanner for objtaining a relatively large area of frictionally en- I 'gaged surfaces in a relatively. small and compact I device. fotherobje'ctswill be manifest in the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings; r

Ofthe accompanying drawingsz it I Fig. 1 's a transverse section through an =oscillating joint, and a pair of'friction devices embodying the invention operatively associated therewith; I

; F st-'2 is' an edge view, on a larger scale, of a frictiondevice embodying the invention, a part thereof being in sectionand a part being' in elevation; Fig. 3 isan f' elements of a friction device in perspective; and

exploded view showing the several Fig. 4 is 'a fragmentary sectionalfperspective view of a modified embodimentof- "one of the elevehicle wheel'suspensions, the member l2. may

. comprise an axle (not shown) upon whicha vehicle wheel isjournaled. -As shown, the pin II is permanently attached to-one;of the links!!! by welding shown at l 3, but other well-known means for mounting the pin non-rotatably in the links I y e employed if desired, Mounted upon the pin Hybetween the latterand the member l2, is

the usual tubular. bearing bushing 44. For lubricating the said bushing, the pin H is formed with an axial bore l that terminates at one end on an end face of the pin, and is threaded thereatto receive agrease cup, or'a grease-gun fitting was shown. At its inner end the axial bore I5 intersectsa radial bore I! that opens into a circumferential groove 18 on the periphery of the pin, midwaybetween the ends thereof. The inner or bearing face of the bushing 14 is formed with a-lhelical groovelQ extending from end to end thereof adapted to conduct lubricant from the groovel8 .to therespective ends of said bushing,

and to lubricate the contactingsur-faces of bushing and pin. Mounted upon thepin ll, between one side of. the hub portion of member l2 and the 7 adjacent face of a link I!) is a friction device embodying the invention and. designated as a whole by the numeral 20. similarly positioned'on the opposite side of themember I 2.is somewhat modified friction device, designated as-a ,whole by the numeral. t 4

The constructionof friction device 20 and the elements thereof is best shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Referringto the figures-it will be seen, thatthe device comprises a pluralityof circular, axially I apertured disc-like. elements disposed in laterally abutting relation, in axial alignment, said elemerits beingconsecutively designated 24, 25, 26. 21, 28 and 29 respectively. The member 24 is a ,relativelywide. endlessjband of, elastic material [su h a rubber or rubber-like composition, and

is formed on its'lateral margins with integral f circumferential fla ges 30, 3Q that/extend in-v wardlyof the ring and converge somewhat to- I ward each other. The band 24 is adapted to cir- 'cumscribe and tightly embrace the other elements of thedevice and to this endhas somewhat smaller inside diameter than. the outside diameter of the largestfof the other elements 25. to .29 inclusive. Furthermore, the width. of the band 24 between flanges 30, in unstressed condition, is'less' than the total thickness ofthe operatively assembled elements 25 to 29 so thatiw hen the-band is circled about the assembled discs the said. flanges are under-tension-and'thus normally exert an axially directed, compactingv .force upon the assembly. The band 24 also serves. to exclude water, dirt,,and other foreign matter from the device. I n

;The member 25 isan annular sheet metal, disc formedon its periphery with aplurality of laterallyextendingilange's 32, 32 thatare shown herein-as, six in number. 1 All flanges 32, extend in the same direction, and are of uniform length and are resilient rubber or rubber-like composition of;-a

nature that is resistant to oil and grease. Its

the member l2. To this end the link I is formed with a plurality of recesses or sockets 50, 50 in which the dowels 34 of disc 25 are receivable, and the member I2 is formed with a similar series of sockets 5|, 5| in which the respectiv dowels of disc 29 are receivable. The space between the link In and member I2 is less than the thickness of the assembled device so that when operatively positioned the resilient disc 26 ,of the latter axial aperture 36 is of such size as to admit the pivot pin I with an easy sliding The outside diameter of the disc .26 is the sameasthed; diameter of the disc across the inner arcuate faces of the its flanges 32, the arrangementbeing such that the disc 26 is positionableinlater ally abutting relation to disc 25, the-flanges 32 of the latter extending substantially all the way across the peripheralf'ace of the disc 26. One lateral face of the disc 26 is formed with 'two annular grooves'31, 38that are concentricwith the axis of the'disc, and the opposite side of the disc is formed with a single annular groove39,

Figs. 1 and 2, that is disposed intermediate grooves 31, 38. The presence of said grooves enables substantial deformation or displacement of the composition 'of the disc'26 when it" is subjected to axially directed compressive stress during use. The member 21 is an'iannu'lar sheet metal disc that is identical with'the' member 25 except that it lacks the dowels 34 of the latter. It comprises laterally extending marginal flanges 4|, 4|, and in the assembled condition of the device the disc'21 is in laterally abutting" relation to the resilientdisc 26,, its flanges 4| substantially spanning the periphery ofsaid disc 26 and disposed between flanges 32 of disc 25, in interca-lated relation with the latter. ,The arrangement is such as to prevent relative angular oscillating movement between discs 25 and 21, buttoenable relativeaxial movement of thediscs toward each other against, the resistance .of the intervening resilient disc 26, or away from each other under impetus of said disc 26 when deformingpressure on the latter is relieved.

The member 28 is anfannulardisc of friction material, specifically [porous graphite bronze. Theoutside diameter ofdisc, 2 3 is the. same as disc 26, and it is provided with an axiala flrture 43 that is substantially, largerthan the pivot pin i I so asto provide an appreciable spacegtherebetween. Both. lateral faces of the disc 128 are formed with arcuate oil or grease. grooves 44, '44 that openinto the, axial aperture'43, theouter ends of thegrooves. being spaced inwardly from the periphery of the disc.

The member 29 is an annular sheet metal disc that is formed on one lateral face with dowels or lug's- 46,, 46- that maybe identical with the dowels 34 of the, disc 25. The outside diameter of disc 29 preferably isthe same as the greatest outside diameter of the discs 25 and 21,jbut the disc 29 is not formed with lateral flanges; such as the flanges 32, 4| of the previously described discs. The disc 26 is formed with an axial aperture 41 that is substantially the same diameter as the aperture 43 in friction disc 28. i p p The assembled friction device 26, comprising the several elements 24 to 28 as described, is mounted'upon the pivot pin between-a link H) and the member l2, with the'disc 25 confronting the link Ill and the disc 29 confronting is. under cflml ressive.stress;v The arrangement is such that relative oscillatory movement of link I0 and member 2 will produce similar relative oscillatory movement of the disc 25 and disc 23.

' Since disc 21 is mechanically interlocked with .disc 25 through the agency of the flanges 32, 4|, it

follows that disc 21 will oscillate with disc 25,

.wherebythe lateral faces of friction disc 28 are subjected to the friction of the oppositely oscillatingdiscs 21, '29. The feature of having the axial apertures of discs 28, 29 somewhat larger than the pivot pin enables grease or oil discharged from an end of grease groove l9 to reach the grease-grooves 44 of the friction disc and thus to lubricatethe friction faces thereof.

It-will' be seen thatthe invention provides an efiicient and compact friction device that requires no adjustment afteronce being placed in service, that utilizes both faces of 'the'friction element 26 thereby obtaining a relatively large area of friction surface, and which is wellsuited for use in situationswherein thereis' axial'thrust of one of the relatively oscillating elementsjsuch asthe p element I2" shown herein.

The friction device 2|, which is positioned on the opposite side of member I2, between the'latter and the other link H] in many respects is similar tofriction device 20' and may employ some of the elements of the latter. Said device 2|"comprises a'circumferential band 54of "elastic material that is similar to the band 24previusly described and serves a similar purpose, said band 54 differing from band 24by being of'nar- "rower width. The'device 2| includes a friction disc 28-suchas previously described, said disc 28 being coaxially positioned between two annular 'metal discs .za and'55', the latter being identical with disc 29, which previouslyhas been described,

except that its axial aperture is smaller solas to have a close'fit about the pivot pin The, disc .55 also is formed with a series of laterally projecting dcwels56, 56 similar to thedowels 46 .of

disc 29.

The device '2 I, assembled as shown ,in F 'ig... is positioned between the element l2 andlink ID with thedisc 29 abutting. the element I2 and its dowels 4.6 seating in respective sockets 58. formed in thelatter', the disc55 abutting link jil. and having its dowels 56 received in respectivesockets 59 .formed in said linln1The'device;2| .receives lubricant from the, rease roove |9,.in the same mannerasdoesfri'ctiondevice2.0. .1

It will be obvious that uponrelative osCillati ng .movementpf the links IO and member I 2, both discs '29,, 55 will move, relativelyof the,friction disc. 28, in the samermanner as'infriction device .20. The device 2| is designed especially for ,use

in combination with frictiondevice 20 ,as..shown,

, whereby the expansive force ,ofthe resilient, ,disc

26 of, friction device 20 will be transmitted tothe member l2 and through the latter to the friction device 2 with the result that pressure isexerted at all times onthe friction disc 28 ofthe latter.

Although the'friction devices 26, 2| are "constructed and arranged-to be lubricated, asre- "quired. by means of -lubricantj distributed 1 thereto comprising castor oil or a castor oil derivative.

All embodiments of the invention are characterized by having a greater dynamic coefiicient of friction than static coefiicient of friction; that is, the devices of the invention offer less resistance or friction to the initiation of movement between two relatively movable elements than to subsequent relative movement thereof. This obviates the objectionable break away effect that is noticeably present in some friction devices, and results in smoother operation.

Modification may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a friction device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of disclike elements including a friction element arranged co-axially in laterally abutting relation, and an elastic band under tension extending circumferentially about all of said disc-like elements.

2. In a friction device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of disclike elements including a friction element arranged co-axially in laterally abutting relation, and an elastic band extending circumferentially about all of said disc-like elements and formed with inwardly extending marginal flanges positioned against the exposed faces of the outermost discs of the structure, said band being under circumferential and transverse tension.

3. In a friction device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of disclike elements including a friction element arranged co-axially in laterally abutting relation, and resilient means under tension engaging the outermost elements of said group of elements and urging them toward each other to compact the assembled structure.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3 including dowels formed on and projecting laterally from the outermost discs of the device, said dowels being receivable in respective sockets formed in a pair of elements having relative oscillatory movement and relative axial thrust, and between which the device may be positioned.

5. A friction device of the character described adapted to be positioned between a pair of elements having relativeoscillatory movement, said device comprising a metal plate adapted to be oscillated by one of said relatively moving'elements a friction disc in laterally abutting relation to said plate, a metal plate on the opposite side of said friction disc and laterall abutting the same, said last mentioned plate adapted to be oscillated by the other relatively moving element, and a resilient member supported solely by said plates and normally yieldingly urging them toward each other and toward said friction disc.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the resilient member is an elastic band encircling the device and formed with inwardly extending marginal flanges engaging the outer lateral faces of the metal plates, said band being under longitudinal and transverse tension.

'7. In a friction device adapted for use between a pair of relatively oscillating elements, the combination of a metal plate adapted to be oscillated by one of said relatively oscillating elements, a friction disc in laterally abutting relation to said metal plate, a second metal plate on the opposite side of said friction disc and laterally abutting the latter, a third metal plate spaced laterally from said second metal plate and adapted to be oscillated by the other relatively movable element, a deformable disc of resilient material disposed between the second and third metal plates enabling relative axial movement therebetween, and means providing driving connection between the second and third metal plates whereby oscillatory movement of the third plate is translated to the second plate.

8. A combination as defined in claim 7 wherein the last mentioned means consists of projections formed on the second and third plates, said projections extending laterally into driving engagement with each other.

9. A combination as defined in claim 7 wherein the last mentioned means consists of laterally projecting marginal flanges formed on the sec- 0nd and third plates, the flanges of one plate being intercalated with the flanges of the other plate.

10. In a friction device adapted for use between a pair of elements oscillating relatively about an axis, the combination of an annular metal plate concentric with said axis and adapted to be oscillated by one of said relatively movable members, a co-axial friction disc in laterally abutting relation to said plate, a second metal plate on the opposite side of said friction disc and laterally abutting the latter, a third metal plate in axially spaced relation to the second plate and adapted to be oscillated by the other relatively movable element, said second and third plates having me' chanical interengagement whereby the third plate can oscillate the second plate, and yielding means disposed between the second and third plates enabling relative axial movement therebetween.

11. A combination as defined in claim 10 including an elastic band under tension circumscribing the assembled elements of the device and engaging the exposed lateral faces of the outermost of said elements.

ROY w. BROWN. 

